Family and friends of longtime Texas A&M chemical engineering educator Daniel T. Hanson have endowed a scholarship in his memory.

"The outpouring of student appreciation through letters and personal comments led our family to start this scholarship as a memorial to Dan," said his widow, Ruth Hanson.

The award is part of the chemical engineering department's C.D. Holland Scholars Program and targets high-achieving undergraduates with leadership potential and financial need. The inaugural recipient of the Hanson scholarship, Jonathan Fowler of College Station, was named for Fall 2006.

"Dan was a true gentleman and an outstanding teacher in our department, which is why this scholarship is so fitting to preserve his memory among our undergraduate students," said Kenneth R. Hall, holder of the Jack E. and France Brown Chair and department head at the time of Hanson's death in January 2005.

Hanson earned B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Minnesota in 1964 and 1968, respectively. He joined the Texas A&M faculty in August of 1967, serving as a teacher and counselor over 37 years.

Hanson was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Society for Engineering Education and Sigma Xi, a scientific research society.

His commitment to teaching was recognized by students and administrators alike. Hanson twice received the Outstanding Achievement in Student Relations from the Student Engineers' Council and twice the university-wide Faculty Distinguished Achievement award from the Association of Former Students: the first for Student Relations and the second for Teaching.

Hanson was recognized with the Dow Faculty Distinguished Teaching Award and as Mentor of the Year and Professor of the Year by the Texas A&M student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

"Dad had an amazing work ethic, and he loved his students. He worked tirelessly for their growth and happiness not only as students but as individuals. This scholarship fund allows him to continue to educate the students he loved," said son Thomas D. Hanson, Texas A&M Class of 1983.

"We knew firsthand of Dan's devotion to his students through the late night calls, the help sessions at hours that would accommodate all students and his constant accessibility to work on their behalf. He was truly their advocate. We could not convince him to retire. He taught his last class the day he died. Our family wished to honor his memory to reflect this very important part of who he was. We selected the Holland Scholars Program in acknowledgment of Dan's deep respect and appreciation for Dr. Holland's teaching methods, which he emulated," Mrs. Hanson said.

"Dan was truly tops in counseling and teaching. If a student had Dan for a counselor, his or her parents could be assured that their son or daughter was in good hands - they had the best of the best," said Charles Holland, who served as Texas A&M's second chemical engineering department head from 1964 to 1987 and is president of the Texas Institute for the Advancement of Chemical Technology (TIACT) headquartered at Texas A&M.

"In all the courses Dan ever taught, he knew far more about the subject than did the author of the text he was using. He also had a profound knowledge of mathematics and physics and was the one faculty members turned to in time of doubt. This scholarship identifies Dr. Dan Hanson as the role model for teaching and counseling," Holland said.

The Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M ranks 13th in undergraduate programs nationally, according to U.S. News & World Report. The department houses over 470 undergraduate students.

The university's Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University is one of the largest engineering colleges in the nation. The college houses 12 departments and more than 9,700 students.